Born As The Daughter Of A Lowly Concubine [EN]: Chapter 285

“Are you talking about the wedding dress?”

“Yes. It’s quite an expensive outfit, after all. But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing… well, maybe. Anyway, it’s a precious dress, so wouldn’t you want to wear something elaborate?”

Min Sang-gung was as delighted as if it were her own affair.

“Everyone will be pleased if you do so.”

“Hmm. I wonder how much it would cost to make one.”

“I will submit a budget.”

I think I heard that wedding dresses can also be rented from the government office.

‘There are many people at Siyeongwon [a government agency related to clothing and textiles], so it would be okay for us to handle this ourselves.’

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen many traditional weddings since I came here.

‘Actually, this isn’t the time to be talking about other people’s weddings…….’

I couldn’t help but sigh when I thought of the Crown Prince, who is more desperate for marriage than anyone else.

‘No, everything is going well.’

The Crown Prince needed to take a Crown Princess soon.

Seong Gyeom-sabok had also left for Hamgyeong Province, so he would find some clues and return, and then the obstacles blocking the two of them would disappear.

‘Then I’ll be independent too.’

Instead of going back to the palace when I come out to play, I can go to my private residence and rest comfortably.

“Oh. Ah, Miss. Please help me.”

“It’s not like the kids are going to eat you.”

“It’s easy for you to say since it’s not your problem.”

Cheon-ho didn’t seem to be having a hard time, but he ran away, making whining noises.

It’s like a large dog who doesn’t realize he’s all grown up.

Min Sang-gung even poured tea for Cheon-ho.

“I heard there will be a wedding soon, let’s go see it then.”

“That would be nice. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a proper wedding before.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. I’ve seen it while walking around… Ah, I’ve seen siblings getting married together.”

“Wow, a joint wedding.”

Come to think of it, a joint wedding wouldn’t be bad either.

Brides can’t move well because their dresses are heavy, so it might be better to have several people together than to be alone, so they won’t be nervous.

You might think it’s discriminatory that they can’t move because of their clothes, but for commoners, it was the only day in their lives that they could wear fancy silk clothes like wonsam (圓衫) [a ceremonial robe].

I’m an Ongju [a King’s daughter born to a concubine], so I wear it as formal wear… Ah, I’m too big, so I have to make a new one.

‘Come to think of it, can I still wear hwalot (*the grand ceremonial robe worn by princesses or Ongjus during their wedding) for the wedding now?’

As befits a class-based society, there is clear discrimination, but at least the world wasn’t stingy about letting people feel good on their wedding day.

I was already told to investigate and record the costumes, so should I have a few made for each region?

“Come to think of it, a rental business would be good… It would be nice to have sumo (手母: professional women who attend to the bride at traditional weddings) too.”

It might be a good idea to make a catalog and distribute it to the noble families.

Even if the noble families are poor, they tend to save face, so there might be demand.

‘Originally, wedding dresses were taken to the grave when you die.’

It’s the most gorgeous dress of a lifetime, so it’s understandable.

Cheon-ho, who had finally escaped from the children and barely returned, shook his head as if he was fed up when he saw me thinking about another business plan.

“I don’t know why the conversation always goes there…….”

“Haha. I don’t know either. Isn’t it just a disease now?”

While Cheon-ho and I were exchanging nonsense, Min Sang-gung next to us smiled contentedly.

“I’m relieved that Ongju is as healthy as usual.”

“……Are you relieved that I’m working?”

“Isn’t it scary for people to change? Because you don’t know how they will change.”

“Min Sang-gung is still the same…… No, I think she’s become a lot more rounded than before.”

Of course, she still looks a little stiff now, but it was nothing compared to the stiff Min Sang-gung when she was in the palace.

“That’s because it can’t be compared to the strict palace.”

“Hmm. Was that so.”

I just think Min Sang-gung was strict.

“Do you remember when I was in the palace?”

“Ah……. A little?”

It was a long time ago, and I was too young.

I only remember it because it was impressive, but in fact, I’ve forgotten a lot of things from 10 years ago.

So I’ve forgotten quite a bit about my previous life too.

Memories that are not recalled evaporate, and by the time I was old enough to write something down secretly, I had already forgotten a lot of the contents of the novels I had read.

I wish I had remembered it in more detail.

But because I saw so many things, they got mixed up.

‘It’s getting scary.’

Now, I had no choice but to hope that the main characters would find their way out.

I paved too much of a flowery path…… didn’t I? Maybe?

The kids still suffered a lot…….

Cheon-ho, who was next to me, looked at me with a puzzled face, perhaps noticing that my eyes were suddenly sentimental as I read the report that Min Sang-gung had brought.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, let’s go.”

“What are you looking at again?”

“Ah, because of the heating bill,”

Looking at the report, I was worried that the heating bill was high because it was cold.

Fortunately, it’s not time to worry about environmental pollution yet…….

“No matter how much firewood, charcoal, and preparation we do, I’m worried that it won’t be enough. Now I have to create a tree planting day in the spring and plant trees.”

“…….”

“We have to look at the forestry business from a long-term perspective…….”

While I was worrying about coal, I felt a gaze. It was Cheon-ho.

“Why?”

“No. I just thought you were still busy with a lot of work…….”

“Don’t be silly. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

It didn’t seem like I had been walking around that much, but when I finished my errands here and there and tried to go back, it was already getting dark.

On the way back, something suddenly came to mind.

“Cheon-ho, it hasn’t been long since you went home either, has it? I think it’s going to be okay now, do you want to go home?”

“Uh. Well, it’s nice and warm in the palace in the winter.”

“Is that why you’re not going in? Your uncle must be worried.”

“We’re not that kind of relationship, but…… I’m sure he’s doing well on his own.”

He’s drier than he looks.

“Your uncle would be sad if he heard that.”

“He raised me, but even if we’re family, what’s important to each of us is different.”

“?”

What are you talking about, really.

‘There’s no credit for raising a child.’

That’s not what this saying is usually used for, but it suddenly came to mind.

“Are you going out tomorrow too?”

“Yes. First of all, why?”

“No. Come to think of it, it seems like it’s been a while since I’ve been home.”

“Ah, then why don’t you go home? It’s okay even if Cheon-ho is gone for a day…….”

At Cheon-ho’s words, I thought it would be better to rest, so I urged him to rest, but unexpectedly, Cheon-ho cut me off firmly.

“It’s not okay. It’s not that urgent for me to go home either.”

“No, isn’t your uncle worried?”

“He knows where I am and what I’m doing, so why would he worry? If there’s anything urgent, he’ll contact me, won’t he?”

“There’s nothing that could happen.”

“Ongju’s surroundings are never safe.”

“Hmm. I can’t argue with that, even though it’s frustrating.”

Seong Gyeom-sabok is leaving sooner than I thought, so there’s no one to replace Cheon-ho…….

“Still, I feel bad that I’m overworking you too much.”

“Why are you suddenly feeling sorry? It’s only natural for me to protect Ongju.”

“Natural…… is it?”

“Of course.”

I feel like it shouldn’t be taken for granted, but Cheon-ho smiled brightly as if he was happy.

I somehow thought he was cute, so I stroked Cheon-ho’s head.

Come to think of it, he could be upset, but Cheon-ho quietly accepted my touch.

“Then where are you going next?”

“Hmm. I reported my survival to the kids, so I’m going to look into Crown Prince Seongwon’s affairs.”

I was a little worried because I heard about it back then.

But at my words, Cheon-ho was suspicious.

“You’re not doing anything dangerous again, are you?”

No, I’m just going to go to where the court ladies or retired former Ikwisa [a type of military official] people live.

“Did you tell Se…… Brother?”

“Hmm. Should I tell him?”

“Wouldn’t he be worried?”

“Hmm. I’ll tell him.”

He’ll be worried if I say I’m going far away, but this much is okay.

I don’t want to go too far either. Of course, I can go quite far if I go out on a horse, but there’s a limit to that.

‘I’ve roughly confirmed where the court ladies went through Min Sang-gung, but I should tell the Queen and the Crown Prince first.’

Otherwise, strange misunderstandings might arise.

People’s eyes are always like that.

***

“Crown Prince Seongwon, you mean?”

“Yes.”

The Queen made a sullen face when I went to the Junggungjeon [the Queen’s residence] with snacks and said that I was going to visit those who had served Crown Prince Seongwon.

I made an excuse that I missed Crown Prince Seongwon and that it seemed right to take care of the people who served him, so she seemed to be convinced, but she didn’t seem very happy.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Yes?”

“Maybe they won’t like it either…….”

“Why is that?”

“No, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

I’m very worried.

“Come to think of it, Crown Prince Seongwon’s palace people have hated me since before.”

“…….”

“Does the Queen know the reason?”

The Queen had a slightly complicated face at my words.

“Your Majesty?”

“They have faults, but it’s all in the past now. Don’t worry too much about it.”

“How can I speak ill of my brother and those who sincerely followed him? It’s just that I’ve been a little curious since I was a child.”

The Queen sighed, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a lamenting tone.

“Crown Prince Seongwon had no greed and was upright in character. But those around him were not.”

“?”

I don’t know what that has to do with it.

The Queen laughed like a sigh, as if she knew my question.

“They must have been unhappy that His Majesty’s favor was going to Ongju instead of Crown Prince Seongwon.”

What are you talking about.

“Even if I receive favor, how can I compare to the Crown Prince, who is the eldest legitimate son?”

Of course, my half-siblings could be born. I even had a sibling who couldn’t be born.

But there’s already a grown-up legitimate Crown Prince, so what’s the big deal if three or four more sons are born to a concubine?

In fact, there were already two more sons born to other concubines.

If you’re so impatient, you should push the Crown Prince to have an heir quickly. Why are you catching innocent people?

“People’s greed is endless. It would be nice if there were only people without greed like Ongju…….”

I’m living quite greedily…….

“Isn’t it already in the past?”

“Well, Crown Prince Seongwon is already gone, so there’s nothing they can do.”

The Queen said that…… but why does it feel more ominous when she says that?